Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as Bangladesh’s prime minister and fled the nation on Monday following weeks of protests, didn’t need to go away in any respect however did so on the household’s insistence, his US-based son and former Chief Advisor Sajeeb Wajed Pleasure informed NDTV.
“She wished to remain, she didn’t need to go away the nation in any respect. However we saved insisting that it wasn’t secure for her. We have been involved for her bodily security first; so we persuaded her to depart,” her son Pleasure informed NDTV’s Marya Shakil in a telephonic interview.
“I spoke to her this morning. The scenario in Bangladesh, as you may see, is anarchy. She is in good spirits however she may be very disenchanted. It’s extremely disheartening for her as a result of it was her dream to show Bangladesh right into a developed nation and she or he labored so arduous for it over the past 15 years, preserving it secure from militants and in addition to from terrorism and regardless of all of that this vocal minority, the opposition, the militants have now seized energy,” he mentioned.
Her flight got here lower than seven months after she celebrated a fourth straight time period in energy – and fifth general – by sweeping nationwide elections in January.
The 76-year-old was flown in a navy helicopter on Monday along with her sister to take refuge in India. She is anticipated to depart for London later, sources informed NDTV, the place she might search political asylum.
Her son, nevertheless, mentioned he didn’t talk about along with her the place she is headed now.
Her final 15 years in energy have been marked by arrests of opposition leaders, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent, and she or he resigned within the face of lethal student-led protests which have killed lots of.
Protests started in June after pupil teams’ calls for for the scrapping of a controversial quota system in authorities jobs escalated right into a motion searching for the top of her rule.
“We hope that there shall be elections in Bangladesh however right now with our get together leaders being focused I do not see how free and honest elections could be doable. In a means, it’s not the household’s duty. We’ve proven what we are able to do. We’ve proven How a lot we are able to develop Bangladesh and if the folks of Bangladesh aren’t keen to face up and they’re keen to let this violent minority seize energy then folks get the management they deserve,” mentioned his son.
Pressed to reply if his mom did the very best for the nation, he mentioned, “Completely. Awami League nonetheless stays the most well-liked get together within the nation. BNP has the possibility to return again to energy and we’ve seen what they have been just like the final time. They ran the nation to the bottom. The militants had a free hand; they attacked the minorities with impunity.”
Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the discharge of jailed former prime minister and key opposition chief Khaleda Zia, hours after her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the navy took energy.
Bangladesh’s military chief Normal Waker-Uz-Zaman mentioned in a broadcast to the nation on state tv that Hasina had resigned and the navy would kind a caretaker authorities.
“The nation has suffered so much, the economic system has been hit, many individuals have been killed — it’s time to cease the violence,” mentioned Waker, shortly after jubilant crowds stormed and looted Hasina’s official residence.
Bangladesh’s Channel 24 broadcast photos of crowds working into the prime minister’s compound, grinning and waving to the digicam, looting furnishings and books, or enjoyable on beds.
The navy mentioned it might elevate a curfew imposed to quash protests at daybreak Tuesday.
“I doubt military will be capable of normalise issues that quick. As a result of proper now what is going on is that the opposition and the militants, they aren’t solely vandalising, they’re additionally looking out our leaders, former ministers and even what I’m listening to minorties. I do not suppose the violence has ended,” mentioned Mr Pleasure.
Mobs raided and ransacked the properties of Hasina’s Awami League get together allies in addition to police stations, witnesses informed information company AFP.
Crowds smashed statues of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s independence hero, and set fireplace to a museum devoted to him.
“The emotion is one among disappointment, anger, that my grandfather liberated the nation they usually killed him and my complete household. And now the identical powers, these are the minorities that opposed the independence of Bangladesh are utilizing this chance to principally deny and destroy our hard-fought wrestle for freedom. And it’s extremely disheartening to see that almost all of Bangladesh is staying silent,” mentioned Mr Pleasure.
The south Asian nation has an extended historical past of coups.
The navy declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and put in a military-backed caretaker authorities for 2 years.